Sports is a powerful force for good. It sets the foundation for healthy child development, it builds self-esteem and leadership skills, and it helps to break down barriers across gender, ethnicity and socio-economic status. From early childhood to adolescence, sport teaches important life lessons such as respect, leadership, cooperation and equality.
UNICEF has partnered with ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022 to shine a spotlight on empowering girls who are often restricted by social norms, gender inequality, and time-consuming demands of household chores, to participate in sports. Together, we can build a better, brighter and more equitable future.
Empower girls through cricket
Breaking down barriers with a bat and a ball
These inspiring young people are part of a girl’s cricket team in Sri Lanka, where cricket is traditionally seen as a boy’s sport. When the school day is over, the girls play cricket on a small ground near their village. However, for a long time, they didn’t have any equipment or anyone to coach them. They would often use a cricket bat borrowed from a neighbour.
Through a UNICEF sport for development program, girls like Abisha received training in cricket technique and cricket equipment to play. Globally, sport for development initiatives have been shown to build children’s leadership skills and self-esteem and create better relationships with teachers and adults, increasing their engagement in school.
“I am proud to say that we won the Under 15 Cup in Jaffna. Now our village has gained a reputation for [girls] cricket. I have confidence that I may be able to play for the national women’s team someday,” says Abisha.
Empowering girls through sport
Team up with UNICEF to help girls play sport, no matter who they are or where they live.
Be a champion for girls in sport
Participation in sport at all levels gives children and young people a sense of hope and belonging. By becoming a champion for girls in sport, you’re empowering them to:
Challenge unequal gender norms and shape attitudes in schools, playgrounds and homes.
Develop self-confidence and shed bodily inhibitions.
Harness the benefits sports provides to physical and mental health.
Be the next generation of sports champions, change makers and world leaders.
Changing the lives of children around the world through sport
In India, an Under 17 girls cricket team play at a tournament that’s been organised by the Bhuj Bal Panchayat (children’s parliament), which brings teenagers together to strengthen their voice and leadership and provide a platform for them to speak on.
In Papua New Guinea, the Silku and Kamaneku tribes have opposed one another for generations. Today, the children are connecting through sports.
In Ukraine, most sporting facilities have been damaged or destroyed by the war, but children continue to play and find solace in sport.
In Antigua and Barbuda, 7-year-old Khadalia plays cricket during a physical education class at her primary school in St. John’s. Khadalia and her family were displaced after Hurricane Irma.
In Afghanistan, the girls cricket team has a passionate message, ‘We are strong and we believe in Afghanistan that nothing is impossible.’
In Kenya, 19-year-old twin sisters are being trained in football while receiving education, life-skills training, food, psychosocial support and much more. Before they attended training, the girls were not attending school.
In Syria, UNICEF has reached nearly 32,000 adolescents and youth in Hasakeh with various skill building activities through adolescent friendly spaces, including sports for development.
How will my donation help empower girls through sport?
The impact you can make for children across the world by supporting our sports for development programs is immense.
- $39 could help us deliver a comprehensive sport for development program for a student focusing on skills, wellbeing and inclusion
- $112 could train a teacher to deliver quality sport programs focusing on skills, physical health and wellbeing and inclusion
- $200 could provide a pack of sporting supplies for one Children's Club to be able to deliver sport for development activities for around 100 students
- 82¢last year, 82 cents went directly to program expenditure and community education, including long-term development and emergency response work.
- 13¢last year, 13 cents covered the essential costs of raising public awareness and fundraising to generate more support for UNICEF’s work.
- 5¢last year, 5 cents were spent on UNICEF Australia’s accountability and administration.
How do we use each dollar donated?
Empowering girls through sport
Team up with UNICEF to help girls play sport, no matter who they are or where they live.